I found lovely frost patterns this morning on the car.

It has been freezing all day but not really cold, just freezing.  There is absolutely no wind so the silence is deafening.

The horses don’t mind this kind of weather.  They are miserable with the endless wind and rain and so far, though I am sure it will all change, we have been very lucky.

But, the best part of today was watching Albie instigate play with one of the Minions.  This is the first time I have seen him do this.  He did play with Camus but Camus used to pick on him rather than the other way round.

We fed Albie his afternoon milk and afterwards, he pounced on Storm who was not expecting it.

I didn’t feel sorry for Storm at all.

He has had this coming for many years – someone even more annoying than himself.

They are going to be very good friends – I can see it.  This is how Minions behave.

Albie, having now turned into a typical Thordale pony, introduced himself the way he was taught.

He loved his nose kissey.  Obviously, he understands this method of communication.

Winter brings the best sunsets.

It might be cold and clear but Shetland has breath-taking skies this time of year.

The sun was going down.

I had a job – to feed Albie his afternoon milk.  Daisy checked the Sandness herd (Waffle, Silver, Lyra and Vitamin).  We take it in turns.

So I called my little Albie and, of course, he came running.

And then he had to stop and look distinguished.  I think he is a beautiful boy.  Very special.

A friend turned up too because that is what this kind of “friend” does. Your friend if there is food.

Albie had his milk. He can drink it down in ten seconds flat – one whole litre.  It’s his talent.

Albie does that thing with his left front leg – he paws the bucket or the ground.  I am not sure why.  It is purely instinct as he has never seen anyone else do it but, never the less, he always does it sometimes tipping up his milk, which is very frustrating.

Then a quick play with the bucket because I wasn’t telling him not to.

And then off, back to the herd.  Lickety split!

Of course, his friend went too.  The food had vanished.

I hung around for a while, sitting on a rock taking photos while my bum went numb.

All worth it.  I was loved by a variety of Shetland ponies ….

…..and Icelandic horses.

It was a rugs-off day because, although cold, there is no wind or rain forecast.

Life is good when you are loved and appreciated.

Sitting on a rock, talking to my ponies is my idea of heaven, especially on winter days like these.

Can you get chilblains on yer bum? Already have them on my toes.

We went for a ride this morning.

Daisy rode Klængur to get him ready for Floss’ return (early December, I am so excited).  I rode Haakon.  We tölted along (black-and-decker black-and-decker) up to the canter track and beyond.  All was good.

Before lunch, Daisy and I restacked the winter hay bales (I desperately don’t want them to go fusty – pronounce foo-stee) onto pallets and made them Iacs-proof.  He tends to nibble if he happens to be in the area.

After lunch (yes, homemade soup – I am truly awesome), I took BeAnne and Loki with me to check on the Sandness herd.

Foula was looking mysterious, as ever.  I love looking at this island.

Rain and sleet were in sporadic patches.  We successfully dodged.

And then onto the beach.  BeAnne took to the water – in winter.  She is one tough cookie!

Yes, I took my camera.

Loki was pleased to be there.

I brought entertainment for BeAnne – an American bally-ball.  Her favourite toy.

I love taking the dogs to to the beach.

I did not cross this stream as I did not want to fall in with an expensive camera and I could feel the sand give way.

My darling precious heaven.

I luffs her.  She is my constant companion.

We met a jellyfish.  I put him back into the sea feeling guilty for how we used to throw them for fun at each other as children.

Perhaps not A Good Thing.

And then we went home, via the Shetland ponies – I gave them carrots.

A good Shetland winter’s day.  Riding, walking the dogs on a deserated beach and then giving carrots to Shetland ponies.  What more could anyone really want?

Not-so-little Fivla came home on 24th Sepember.  She was very very fat.

She looked like she had been put steroids.

I will admit, what with BeAnne’s awful paralysis and then my Little Episode (anaphylaxis), we did not keep up Fivla’s intense fitness regimen.  This was mostly because it soon became very apparent that Fivla didn’t actually have laminitis and was not speeding towards Cushings or Equine Metabolic Syndrome.  She was just plain fatty-fat-fat.

Daisy and I talked about the situation and we decided that we would rather Fivla lost weight in her natural environment so that it came off slowly and as her body intended during the bad weather rather than restricting her life.  Basically, she would burn off more calories living outside than standing indoors being starved.

Actually this is what I want for all of them except Albie and Delia – they get rugs.

Anywho, this is Fivla today.

Ok, not microscopically thin but certainly thinner.

She is losing her revolting fat neck crest.  It has almost gone and in a few more weeks it will have gone totally.

Yes, Fivla is still rotund but she lives outside 24/7 and it is a wet cold Shetland winter this year.

She is also getting her lovely smile back.  She was the original nose that was kissed all those years ago.

To me, and I may just be biased, Fivla now looks like an average Shetland pony who is a good-dooer.  She will lose more weight as winter progresses, which is how it should be.

Please tell me you think she looks thinner too.  She does, doesn’t she?

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and messages.  When it is suddenly cold, my bones ache – hence the bad mood yesterday.  My spine is a barometer.

Today we have a gale with huge rain showers that are made of ice needles.  I have stayed indoors keeping warm.

However, this afternoon everyone had a job to do –

• OH walked Loki but BeAnne refused to go; she always stays with me.
• Daisy checked the ponies in Sandness.  Lyra will be pleased. Last time I turned up on my own, Lyra ran past me shouting for Daisy.  Ungrateful mare.
• Me? I fed Albie his tea.

Before the light went, I quickly took my camera outside to see who was close by the house.

The mothers were sheltering round the back of OH’s shed.  They are clever and always show their sons where is best to stand.  I took carrots.

Little Efstur was desperate to come and talk to me and when I said “stay”, he put on his disapproving face.  This little horse thinks far too much.  He is very expressive.

I only wanted him to stay where he was because I always end up with blurred noseys on my lens.

Such a pretty boy.

Hjalti was happy to eat his carrots and stand wherever I wanted him to.

He was also keen to show Efstur how to follow me back home and perhaps get into the garden.

I know one day we will find them all in the garden so I wound an elastic bungee strap round the rickety gate in the hope that this might deter them.  They are not Minions who would have that down in seconds.

I have asked OH to mend the gate. Maybe if he sees the bungee strap, he might feel inspired!

It is either that or four horses at the back door! I wouldn’t mind at all.